Sociocultural

• Jane Boydell et al (2004) ?

  Proposed to understand causes of scz, role of social environment can't be ignored- both social and biological factors need to be studied as well as their interaction.
• Robert Faris (1934) ?


  Suggested that people with scz find contact with others stressful, which causes them to withdraw. Urbanicity and overcrowding can therefore lead to social isolation. This cuts scz person off from feedback about what behaviours or thoughts are inappropriate. In absence of corrective feedback, they begin to behave strangely.
• Peter Jones et al ( 1994) ?

  Reported findings of longitudinal study of 5362 people born in specific week in March 1946. Childhood data gathered prospectively, and between ages 16 and 43, 30 cases of scz were diagnosed. Found those diagnosed with scz were more likely to show solitary play preference at ages 4-6 and at 13, were more likely to rate themselves as less socially confident. Suggests isolation starts very early.
• Robert Faris and Warren Dunham (1939)?


  Reported greater incidence of disorder when comparing densely populated inner city areas of Chicago with less populated outskirts of city.
• What is urbanicity?

  Known since 1939 there's higher prevalence of scz in those living in urban areas compared with rural.
• Jim Van Os (2010)?


  Higher incidence of scz in people born and raised in urban areas (approx. 0.5%). Reason for higher rates in urban areas likely to be due to specific environmental features of urban life.
• Lydia Krabbendam and Jim Van Os (2005)?

  Identified factors such as greater socioeconomic adversity for urban dwellers as well as environmental pollution, overcrowding, drug abuse and exposure to toxins and infectious agents. Greater social stress occurs from living in densely populated area. Exact mechanisms of urbanicity need to be carefully considered, as UN estimate that by 2050, 66% of world's population will live in urban environment.
• Harrison et al (1988)?


  Increased risk and diagnosis rates not only found in 1st gen. migrants, but higher rates of scz were also being noted in children of Afro-Carribean migrants. Researchers suggested discrimination in society and psychiatry are likely explanations for higher incidence of diagnosis of scz in Afro-Caribbean individuals in UK.
• Mahy et al (1999)?

  Explanation can't be genetic as increased risk is not apparent in studies conducted in Caribbean. Therefore additional stress induced through migration to a different culture was suggested as being reasonable explanation for statistics.
• Ineichen (1984)?


  Since 1970s, statistics shown that higher than expected number of individuals of afro-carribean descent are diagnosed with scz. Also more likely to find themselves being compulsorily admitted as opposed to voluntarily admitted to psychiatric hospitals.